Pilgrim Call Newsletter of First Congregational Church June 28, 2016 Issue 680 A Note from Pastor Jon Tice Holiness sounds like hard, laborious work. As we are laying the foundation in our new study this summer on 1 Peter, our motivation for holiness in life is imperative. Thankfully, the work of Christ in salvation of our souls is what opens the chance for a holy life. Consider these thoughts by Pastor Greg Brown on one of the motivations for holiness. " Peter is calling them to holiness on the basis that they were redeemed from slavery and no matter how hard it gets, no matter how much they are harassed or persecuted, they should not go back. The question then is, who were we a slave to? Scripture says we were slaves to sin (John 8:34). When Adam sinned in the garden, he transferred his submission and that of all men to sin. Mankind became in bondage to sin which indwells the flesh of man. Listen to what Jesus said: Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (emphasis mine). John 8:34 36 Listen to how 1 Peter 1:14 calls believers to not go back: As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance (emphasis mine). Those in the world do not understand they are in slavery; Peter says they are in ignorance to it. The world runs around as slaves to their desires. Many are slaves to the desire of becoming wealthy. Christ said in Matthew 6:24 that we cannot have two masters; we will hate one and love the other. We cannot serve God and money. For many, the desire for money and wealth tells them what school to go to, what career field to pursue, how much time to devote to God. Many are enslaved by desires for pleasure. Many of our men were driven by the desires of lust, fulfilled through pornography and sex. They were living in ignorance. Paul says in 1 Cor. 6:12, Everything is permissible for me but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me but I will not be mastered by anything (emphasis mine). Paul said, I am free from sin, because Christ has set me free. But I will not do anything that is sinful, and I will not be mastered by anything. The only master I have is Christ. What is controlling your life? Remember that Christ came and set you free. One of the reasons that we should be motivated to be holy is remembering that we were once slaves to sin and to the desires of the world. Not only were we slaves that needed to be redeemed, but we were living an empty life. You were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers (emphasis mine). 1 Peter 1:18 Solomon described life under the sun, i.e. life apart from God, as vanity or meaningless. From Eccles.1:14: I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind (emphasis mine). Solomon continues, I tried knowledge, gave myself to endless study. I tried wealth and gathered great riches. I tried pleasure and gave myself endless enjoyment of them, only to find out it was all meaningless. I was a fool, chasing after the wind. Solomon summarizes, Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man (Eccles.12:13). Solomon speaks to youth in Eccles.12:1 saying, Remember the Creator in your youth. He essentially says, Don t go off living an empty life like I did: seeking pleasure, education, or money as the chief goal of your existence. It s like grabbing the air it will leave you empty. Many Christians, like Solomon, go back to the slavery of sin and live an empty life. Fear God and keep his commandments. This is the purpose of life: devotion to God. Remember, you were empty and a slave to sin before coming to Christ. Christ came that you may have life and life to full (John 10:10). He came to set you free from slavery. Satan wants you to think that sin is the good life but don t believe the lie. Declare today that you will not go back but that you will go forward in the pursuit of God and the holiness he desires." http://www.pgregbrown.com/
Attendance for Sunday, June 26 th, 2016 Praise Service: Adults 45, Children 1 Classic Service: Adults 48, Children 0 Total 94 Leaders for Sunday, July 3rd, 2016 Lay leader: Karen Lewis Junior Church: Stacey Tice Prayer Concerns June 27 Sonie Durbin, please pray for healing and pain relief following back surgery and discernment for her doctors. June 27 Doris Hippensteel, please pray for healing and recovery following hip surgery. June 26 Amy Duranto, please prayer for healing following surgery. June 23 Suzi Ferguson, doing well following second elbow surgery. Please pray for proper healing and improved strength going forward. June 21 Norma Knack, prayers for healing following oral surgery. June 9 Nancy Phillips, please pray for discernment and answers for some health issues. Continue with Prayers May 31 Bill Fox, prayers for healing and pain relief following back surgery. May 31 Family of Helen Willoughby, Denette Schoenian s aunt. She passed away after her battle with cancer. May 30 Family of Ken Carter, good friend of the Hippensteels. Please pray for his family and friends upon his passing on to be with his Lord. They thank you for the prayers. May 29 Skip DeBolt, prayers for health concerns and healing. Skip is doing well at Waterford in rehab. Continued prayers for: Margaret Orr (Joe Orr s mom), Greg (friend of Kyle Hughes), Barbara Gentry (Rick Gentry s mother), David Bohall (Ron Phillips brother), Ernie Cottingham, Chuck Simon (friend of Dawn Wisler), Mark Downs (friend of Dawn Wisler), Janice Wilson (Stephanie Reeve s mom), Dorothy Unger (Buffey Hedrick's mom), Dean Madigan (Marilee Neer s brother), Betty Gaffney, Mary Myers (Nearly New volunteer), Carol Record (Buffey s friend), Peggy (friend of Angie Love), Sonie Durbin. Continued prayers for cancer challenges: Penelope Puskedra (friend of Neer s), Barbara Broomfield (Jesse s mother), Angie Love, Jaycob Solomon has returned to school, Brad (friend of Nate & Krista Steward), Steve Cassidy (friend of Bailey s), Linda Trent, Linda (Mandy Behler s friend). Please continue to pray for these members and friends of people in our congregation who are facing cancer treatments, those who have finished treatments, and those in remission. Military Soldiers of our Church David Carey Aaron Knight Riley Johnson Andrew Reed Richard Young Adam King Office Hours for Summer During the summer months, the office will be closed on Wednesday mornings until 12:30 PM. Otherwise, the hours are 8:30-4:30 PM. Please call to make sure someone is at the church if you need to come in and don t have a key.
JULY PRAYER CALENDAR Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 Pastor Jon Tice & 10 First Congo Staff 17 First Congo Family & Friends 24 Nearly New Volunteers 4 Chris & Allie Wisler 11 Jim & Maggie Ball 18 Terri & Michael Besser 25 Jordan, Jesse Ben IV, Jada- Claire Broomfield 5 Brittani & Richard Harmon 12 John & Gina Beechy Madlyn,Rilyn 19 Greg & Kris Bewley Will,Haden, Nic, Caleb 26 Don Button 6 Theresa & Roger Worl Whitney, Ri- 13 Joyce Beechy 20 Jamie & Jill Bieber 27 Elaine & Richard Calloway 7 Bea Young 14 Drew & Mandy Behler 21 Bryan & Amy Bitner 28 Karen Caylor Sandra Winslow 8 Carol Aders 15 Kitty Bell 22 Dale & Eileen Bohall 29 Pat & Vicki Clifford Dawn Wisler 9 Dorothy Axtell 16 Michelle Baxter 23 Julie& Jesse Broomfield 30 Craig Cook 31 Our Nation JULY ANNIVERSARIES 5 th Bill & Lyn Shirley 12 th Kevin & Jamie Gasaway 14 th Kent & Stacy McFadden 1st Nick Hedrick Pat Clifford 2nd Kim Ryberg 4th Jeff Wisler 5th Bill Heck 7th Peggy Dechon 8th Hal King Vicki Maughmer 9th Carol Aders 10th Ashley Clifford 12th Waverly Neer Rilyn Beechy Tim Ryberg 14th Bernard Federspill Drew Behler Kevin Staley 15th Don Button Amelia Hamilton Ellie Tice Rex Smeltzer 16th Marty Meck Margot Fox 18th Jake Phillips Marcy Holder 21st Nic Bewley 22nd Kevin Love 23rd Amanda Parrott 25th Jo Hightower 26th Madlyn Beechy 28th Spencer Holder Will Bewley 30th Gabriella Snyder 23 rd Bob & Betsy Hoshaw JULY BIRTHDAYS
JULY ACTIVITIES Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 CAM Coins 9:15 Congo Breakfast 5:30 swim at Tices 4 5 6 WWF Penguins 6:00-8:00 10 11 12 17 Music Forum 6:30 18 19 20 13 WWF Penguins 6:00-8:00 7 Penguins Pool Party at Tices 6:00-8:00 8 9 14 15 16 21 22 23 Jackrabbits Game Outing 5:30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 3:50 Serve at Rescue Mission 5:30 Music Forum 6:30 31 5:30 CONGO BREAKFAST JULY 3rd 9:15
ONE SERVICE SUNDAY, JULY 3RD, AT 10:15 (Grades 6-12) ~~Wednesday evening hangout time at the church will continue on June 29th from PM. NO dinner provided. Come and hang out with your friends! ~~Lecrae book study Unashamed continues this Sunday, July 3rd after the worship service. ~~ will be meeting at the Tice s (1507 Fairway Drive) for a pool party from 5:30 to 7:30 this coming Sunday, July 3rd Young Adult Pool Party/Bible Study (High School Grads & up) Young Adults, please meet at the Tice s home (1507 Fairway Dr.) for a pool party, dinner, games and study on Thursday, June 30th at 6:30. You won t want to miss this fun time! Just bring your swim suit and friends! Penguins WWF (Wednesday s Wisdom and Fun) For ages 4 years old to 5 th grade, from 6:00-8:00. WWF is every Wednesday through July 13 th. There will be games, fun, a snack and a Veggie Tales story. We hope to see you this Wednesday on June 22! Penguins/Young Life Come and have fun at a Pool Party at the Tices house July 7 from 6:00 8:00 Dinner included Save the Date Saturday, July 16th Kokomo Jackrabbits Faith & Family Night Our church will get a block of $10.00 tickets for the game Please sign up in the lobby if you are interested in reserving a ticket. CONGO BREAKFAST THIS SUNDAY, JULY 3rd 9:15
Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 83 Kokomo, Indiana First Congregational Christian Church 505 W. Mulberry Kokomo, IN 46901 Come Worship With Us On Sunday Mornings! 9:00 Praise Service 10:15 Classic Service Contact Information: Phone: (765)452-8285 Nearly New: 459-8121 E-Mail: first.congo@aol.com first.congo22@gmail.com Web Site: kokomofirstcongo.org First Congo Worship Forum: Please Join Us! The First Congo Worship Forum has been initiated to look at our worship services and consider how we can best exalt our Lord while engaging all church members in a manner that encompasses our diversity of tastes and preferences. The group is meeting on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 on the following dates: June 28, July 12, July 26, Aug 9. Anyone who is interested is encouraged to attend. Please call Kris Bewley at 765-438-2400